Tin Can Island Port earns N240b revenue

The Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) realised N240.16 billion revenue in 2013.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Chris Osunkwo,told the News Agency of Nigeria that the revenue was higher by N33.74 billion, or 16.35 per cent over the N206.412 billion recorded in 2012.

He said as a vehicle port, the revenue came mainly from import duties paid on vehicles, levies paid on common external tariff , sugar, wheat flour, wheat grain and bulk goods, adding that the revenue generated from these items in December amounted to N20.06 billion.

He attributed the increase in revenue to digitalisation and automation of the NCS operations at the port.

Osunkwo also traced the increase in revenue to motivation and hard work of officers, whom he said, struggled to achieve the desired goals.

He said initially the Command was sceptical that the introduction of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) would create hiccups and cause reduction in revenue, saying that the introduction of PAAR, has eliminated all forms of delay in clearing of goods.

He said any importers, or agents who lays claim to being delayed today in the port do not understand the new PAAR method.

“It enables an importer to clear goods faster because the person would have processed his document electronically or on-line before the arrival of the cargo,’’ he said.

The public relations officer said that the officers at the Tin Can Island port were motivated to work harder because of government’s circular on the introduction of PAAR to take care of all exigencies